A Mystery Across Borders
Between 1993 and 2009, police in Germany, Austria, and France believed they were hunting one of Europe’s most elusive criminals. Nicknamed the “Phantom of Heilbronn” or the “Woman Without a Face,” an unidentified woman’s DNA was found at 40 separate crime scenes.
These ranged from burglaries and robberies to six murders, including the killing of police officer Michèle Kiesewetter on 25 April 2007 in Heilbronn, Germany. The scattered crime locations and consistent DNA match suggested an experienced and highly mobile suspect, triggering one of Europe’s largest manhunts.
A Massive Investigation
The Heilbronn police formed a special task force called Parkplatz dedicated solely to the Phantom case. By January 2009, authorities offered a reward of €300,000 for information. Forensic analysis of mitochondrial DNA suggested the suspect had Eastern European ancestry, adding to her elusive profile.
Yet some investigators grew skeptical by 2008 when Phantom DNA surfaced in unlikely places, including on the fingerprints of a deceased man’s asylum application. These findings began to challenge assumptions about the suspect’s movements and actions.
The Shocking Discovery
In March 2009, the investigation took an unexpected turn. Experts determined that the DNA did not belong to a serial offender at all. The cotton swabs used to collect samples had been contaminated during manufacturing.
These swabs, supplied to many police departments, came from a factory where several female workers handled them. One worker’s DNA matched the so-called Phantom profile. In Bavaria, police used swabs from a different supplier, which explained why no Phantom DNA appeared there despite many related crimes nearby.
Lasting Impact on Forensics
The revelation ended the years-long manhunt, confirming there had never been a Phantom criminal. The case exposed vulnerabilities in forensic procedures and prompted global reforms.
In 2016, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) introduced ISO 18385, a standard ensuring consumables used for DNA collection are manufactured free of human DNA contamination, preventing similar cases in the future.
From 1993 to 2009, an unknown female DNA profile appeared at 40 crime scenes in Germany, Austria and France, including the 25 April 2007 murder of officer Michèle Kiesewetter in Heilbronn.
The hunt for the ‘Phantom of Heilbronn’ triggered a cross border manhunt…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/RGP62dcoBB
— Fascinating True Stories (@FascinatingTrue) September 3, 2025